Conley v. Commonwealth

OPINION OF THE COURT BY JUSTICE BUCKINGHAM

The U.S. Supreme Court held in Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985), that "when a defendant demonstrates to the trial judge that his sanity at the time of the offense is to be a significant factor at trial, the State must, at a minimum, assure the defendant access to a competent psychiatrist who will conduct an appropriate examination and assist in evaluation, preparation, and presentation of the defense[.]" Id. at 83, 105 S.Ct. 1087. The application of the principles in Ake by the trial court in this case led to errors…